Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-09-15
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Letters from the West,
GREAr BEND. KAN, Sept. 9TH. fss1.

' GREAT BEND, KAN, Sept. 9th, 1857.
Ed, NoRTHwEsT:-Ih have seen scarcely any
news from the Arkansas Valley in the NORTH
WEST since used to write you from Hutch |
inson in 1888 Notwithstanding this, the
Valley has continued to grow in population
and wealth until it is now one of the greatest
and grandest on the American Continent.
The fiattering reports used to give you of
this section of country have no way deter
iofated. On the contrary they are brighter
with each succeeding year, and where the end
is no man tell. My letter to the NORTHWEST
in the year last above, writter found Hutch
inson a town OF perhaps 1900 population,
while now it contains fully 10000 souls.
Great Bend, the city from which now write,
was then O. mere hamlet, while to-day IL is a
fiourishing city of 5000 people, with fine
buildings; lighted by electric light, has street
cars, water works.; daily paper, fine COL
lege and all that goes to make up city, in
cluding dozen churches, opera house,
banks, etc: What changes have occurred
since left Henry county and came to the
then wild west, l can hardly realize it all.
Then the Great Arkansas Valley was barren
prairie, inhabited by cayotes and buffalo.
To-day I sm safe in saying that no country,
under the broad canopy of heaven can boast
of more successful and contented people
than this same once great American desert.
Fine farms and beautiful country homes
greet the eye of the observer on every hand.
aud prosperity hoyers over all like mist
on June morning. If l had been even in
timated to that the country would have un-
dergone such transformation, 1 should like
Thomas of old, doubted and seeffed at the
idea. But then, with the busy, energetic
people of the westnothing seems aRimpossi
bility. No one; WIS, has never seen Kansas in
in its original state could be made believe
the wonderful change that has taken place in
SO short a time. This (Barton) county only
the short space of seventeen years ago did
not contain half dozen framefhouses, while
now it boasts population of 10000 people,
You ask me what makes Kansas? In the
first place, cheap lands. Second, energy and
enterprise. These combined have developed
the great State of Kansas and placed it fore.
most among the States of the Union, anG
Kansas is still in its infancy, with lands a
from 81 to $50 per acre; people are rushing
into the State pell-mell toget home at suct
low prices, and while there are yet many
| thousands of acres of lands to be secured
at these figures in this country, the day il
fast approaching when these bargains will be
Ia thing of the past, fact people of Ohio
and many other States are fully realizing
Barton county has to-day more miles of com
Fpeting lines of railroad than Henry, and will
ere long outstrip her in population and &C
quired wealth. Kansas is really the homs
and paradise Of the agriculturist, and no liant
under the sun yields So abundantly with s.
little labor. When people of the east com
to know more of Kansas, her fertile soil an
: grand climate, they will then appreciate wha
lit is to secure farm within her borders a
the nominal prices of land above given.
While Hutchinson may be said to be
creation of Napoleon men, I have found bp
one party in this city from your town, Mr.
4 j. W. Brown, a very successful real estate an
loan agent, who has done much toward tn
success of Barton county and its prosperou
county seat, Great Bend.
learn by the papers that your forme
Mayor, F. NJ. Rummell, is located at Lyon:
county seat of Rice county, 80 miles east c
this place. The writer of this article leas
expected over a dozen years ago when b
mauled rails for Mr.. Rummell then sue
cessful practicing attorney at Paulding, Ohit
that he and his employer would one day b
residents of the then great American deser
, But time in its flight brings many change
and many of the people of Ohio to boomin
Kansas, whether those of Henry county VII
have left their old associates and come we
are better pleased with the change, we al
unable to say One thing is certain, but fey
if any. have not madea a success in their e
forts in Kansas, and we have yet the first OF
to see who desires to return. They have a
cepted Kansas as their future home, al
Having done SO, it is quite impossible tn
y any will change it and return to the mob
old State from which they came.
... w. E. CARR.